Naked Games (Hard to Get 3)

“No doubt about it, he screwed up, but do you want to risk losing him for good over it?”

As Mary’s words sank in, Catherine felt sicker and sicker. “Oh, God, you’re right. I’m miserable without him.”

Mary smiled and sipped her coffee. “If you ask me you’re both a couple of stubborn mules. Heck, you sort of deserve each other.”

“Great, but there’s a catch,” she muttered. “He lives in Ohio, not exactly a quick trip back and forth.”

“If you love him, then you’ll figure something out. And I’ll bet my last dollar that he’s kicking himself in the ass for letting you walk away.” Mary winked and said, “Maybe you should invite him here. I wouldn’t mind meeting him.”

Could she be so bold as to call him and invite him to Atlanta? It’d been two weeks and she hadn’t returned a single one of his phone calls. Would he even want to see her after all that time?

Still, Mary was right. She loved him. She was miserable without him. It was time to stop moping and do something about it.

The next morning, Catherine stood in her bathroom, staring at the little plastic stick in her hand, willing it to change. It didn’t. The little plus sign wasn’t going away. It was the second test she’d taken.

She was pregnant. Dean Harrison was going to be a father.

The first thing she needed to do was call him. This was so not the way she’d hoped their meeting would go.

“How is it possible that the first chance I let myself have some fun I end up pregnant?”

She wanted to shout to the heavens at the unfairness of it. Fat lot of good that would do. Wishing it away wouldn’t help the situation. She’d tried to wish her parents back alive, and it hadn’t worked. She’d tried to wish her biological father wasn’t a rapist, and that hadn’t worked either. Catherine stomped on the miserable thoughts and concentrated on her current situation.

“A baby,” she said as she covered her stomach with her hand. What sort of mother would she be? Sadness welled up as she thought of how happy her mama would be if she were alive. She could almost hear her soft voice making plans for a nursery. No doubt about it, h

er parents would’ve spoiled her baby something fierce.

She looked up at the ceiling and whispered, “I miss you, Mama.”

When the phone rang, Catherine jumped. Could it be Dean? This time she wasn’t going to send him to her answering machine. She ran out of the bathroom and bounded across her bed, answering it on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Catherine?” Gracie said on the other end. “Is that you? You sound winded.”

Her sister, and one of the few people who would understand her predicament. “Oh, yeah, I’m fine. What’s up? Is Wade treating you right?”

Gracie and Wade were moving right along on their wedding preparations. The last time she’d talked to Gracie, she and Wade were having issues about the flowers. Gracie felt they were too expensive, but Wade had insisted she go all out, considering it’d be the only time she ever walked down the aisle. Catherine thought Wade was perfect for her sister.

“I threatened to drag Wade off to the nearest judge if he doesn’t stop insisting on having the best of the best of everything. This wedding is going to cost a bloody fortune.”

Catherine laughed. “That man is so stupid in love with you, Gracie. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, sis.” There was a beat of silence, then Gracie said, “Uh, there’s something else I wanted to share with you. A bit of news. I wanted you to be the first to know.”

Boy, do I have news for you. “Spill it, the suspense is killing me.”

“Um, well, I’m pregnant.”

Was it even possible? She went back to the bathroom, holding the phone to her ear, and stared at her own two tests.

“Catherine? Did you hear me?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m here.” Then she realized she hadn’t congratulated her. “Oh, Gracie, this is fantastic news!” Something else occurred to her and she grinned. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

Gracie laughed, and Catherine heard Wade say something in the background. “Wade says it’s the potent Harrison DNA. He’s outrageous,” she said, love and happiness in her voice.

Catherine nearly choked. Potent Harrison DNA? Yeah, Gracie didn’t know the half of it. “So,” Catherine said as she went back to the bedroom, “let me get this straight. You’re getting married to the most wonderful man in the world, and you’re going to have his baby. Now that’s what I call a happily ever after ending.”

She heard Gracie sigh. “I know, it’s too much sometimes. I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not all a dream.”